JP2007185754A - Method and device for processing end surface of optical connector - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a method and a device for processing an end surface of an optical connector capable of performing rough polishing and finish polishing of an optical connector ferrule with excellent repeatability by a very simple operation and an inexpensive compact device with a simple mechanism. <P>SOLUTION: A plurality of polishing areas including a roughing area and a finishing area and composed of polishing films 7, 8 having different kinds of abrasive grains or grain sizes are provided on a polishing surface plate or an elastic body 6 on the plate. The end surface of the connector is continuously locally slid (small diameter high-speed rotation) 4 and moved (3) at low speed by making the polishing area for relatively roughing a start point (processing start point) 2 and polishing area for finishing an end point (processing end point) 5 with respect to the plurality of polishing areas without continuously separating the ferrule end surface from the polishing area. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2007,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to an end face processing of an optical connector, and more particularly, to an optical connector end face processing method capable of performing end face processing in a short time and a processing apparatus therefor. The processing apparatus according to the present invention has a simple structure, and aims at low cost and low power consumption. Furthermore, by making it small and light, it is possible to apply it to connector end face processing in the field. The connector to be processed relates to a single-core ferrule having a cylindrical ferrule having a diameter of about 1.25 mm, 2.5 mm, or the like.

  We have so far developed optical connector end face processing technology for the purpose of optical connector end face processing for optical connection in various places such as on-site (Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2004-167675, “Optical Connector End Face Processing apparatus and optical connector end face processing method "(see Patent Document 1)).

  The following points are required for this technology. The processing method requires a short time, in particular, simplicity that does not require skills and high reproducibility, and the processing apparatus is required to be lightweight, small, and have a simple structure with low power consumption and low cost.

  FIG. 5 shows the machining process that we have developed. The fiber G is inserted into and fixed to the ferrule F so that the fiber G protrudes from the end face of the ferrule F with an adhesive (not shown) (FIG. 5A).

  Next, the protruding portion of the fiber G is cleaved by hand or the like in the vicinity of the end face of the ferrule F. However, when the protruding portion is cleaved manually, the fiber G protrudes from the ferrule F by about 1 mm. When this is polished in a short time so that the polished surface of the fiber G is the same as the processed end surface of the ferrule F (first step), a strong stress is applied to the protruding portion of the fiber G, and the broken fiber G is broken. Folds inside (FIG. 5 (b)).

Next, in the second step (rough machining step), the ferrule F is processed at a high speed to form a convex spherical surface, and the influence of the fiber folded inside the ferrule by the break is removed (FIG. 5C).
In the next third step (finishing step), finishing using silica abrasive grains is performed, and the ferrule end face is finished to a mirror surface without processing distortion (FIG. 5D).

  However, there is an inter-process operation between the first process, the second process, and the third process. Specific operations include exchanging the polishing plate or film, discarding the polishing liquid, and cleaning to remove the polishing liquid containing detached abrasive grains and chips adhering to the ferrule and jig. Of course, the polishing liquid for the next process must also be supplied. This operation itself takes time and is complicated, and requires a certain amount of experience to perform sufficient cleaning. In addition, it was an unprecedented work for wiring workers, and it felt a kind of difficulty and also became a barrier to the introduction of this technology to the site.

  Rough / finish continuous machining by automation can be considered as a means for avoiding the complexity in work between processes, uncertainties due to manual operation, and redundancy in machining time. In this case, the adverse effect on the finishing processing of the release abrasive grains and the machining chips is prevented by the cleaning unit or the like by once transporting the workpiece away from the workpiece when transferring from the rough machining to the finishing machining. Therefore, the apparatus requires a stage mechanism for detaching and transporting a workpiece such as a ferrule and a cleaning unit, and is complicated, relatively large, and expensive.

JP 2004-167675 A

  The present invention solves the above-mentioned problems, and performs a rough polishing process and a final polishing process of an optical connector ferrule with a reproducibility with a very simple operation and a small and low-cost apparatus using a simple mechanism. An optical connector end face processing method and an optical connector end face processing apparatus are provided. In other words, in the optical connector end face polishing processing technology, the above-described inter-step operation is eliminated, the complexity of the operation is eliminated, and the total processing time is shortened. Specifically, it is a simple mechanism and high-speed processing. It is intended to realize a processing apparatus that does not impair the process, for example, to provide a small, lightweight, and low-cost processing technique that is effective when used in the field.

In order to achieve the above object, the present invention adopts the following configuration.
Hereinafter, the structure for each claim will be specifically described.

a) The invention according to claim 1 is an optical connector end face processing method for polishing an end face of a connector of a single-core optical fiber that holds a ferrule, and is for rough processing comprising polishing films having different kinds or grain sizes And a plurality of polishing regions including those for finishing, and the ferrule end face of the connector is continuous with respect to the plurality of polishing regions, with the roughing polishing region as a starting point and the finishing polishing region as an end point. It is characterized by moving while sliding locally. The invention according to claim 2 is characterized in that the movement is performed without continuously removing the ferrule end face of the connector from the polishing region.

b) In the invention according to claim 3, in the invention according to claim 1 or 2, the sliding causes the plurality of polishing regions to rotate at a relatively small diameter and high speed with respect to the ferrule end face. These polishing regions are characterized by being moved at a low speed on an arc or straight line.

c) The invention according to claim 4 is the invention according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the light is smaller than the size of the facing portion of the bottom surface of the ferrule holding portion of the optical connector and the polishing film. The distance between the bottom surface of the ferrule holding part of the connector and the polishing film facing in parallel is reduced. As a result, water or the like as the polishing liquid can be held in this portion by the gap and the meniscus force of water during sliding rotation.

d) The invention according to claim 5 is the invention according to claim 3 or 4, wherein the speed of the small-diameter high-speed rotation generates a sufficient swirling flow and stirring flow in the meniscus of the polishing liquid, and polishing. The liquid is characterized in that it does not scatter due to centrifugal force.

e) The invention according to claim 6 is the invention according to any one of claims 2 to 4, wherein a rotation diameter of the small-diameter high-speed rotation is larger than a diameter of the ferrule end surface, and a diameter of a bottom surface of the optical connector holding portion It is characterized by being smaller.

f) The invention according to claim 7 is the invention according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the ferrule has a diameter of about 1.25 mm or 2.5 mm or a cylindrical shape equivalent thereto. .

g) The invention according to claim 8 is an optical connector end face processing apparatus for polishing an end face of a connector of a single-core optical fiber holding a ferrule, comprising a polishing surface plate and abrasive grains provided on the polishing surface plate A plurality of polishing regions including a roughing process and a finishing process composed of polishing films having different types or grain sizes, means for pressing a ferrule end face of the connector against the polishing platen, and the plurality of polishing areas Low-speed moving means for continuously moving the end face of the connector at a low speed continuously with the polishing area for roughing as the starting point and the polishing area for finishing as an end point, and sliding locally while moving at the low speed It has a sliding means. The invention according to claim 9 is characterized in that the ferrule end face of the connector is not separated from the plurality of polishing regions during the low-speed movement.

h) According to a tenth aspect of the present invention, in the invention according to the eighth or ninth aspect, the sliding means is a means for rotating the plurality of polishing regions with a relatively small diameter at a high speed relative to the ferrule end face, and the low speed movement. The means is characterized in that it is a means for moving at a low speed between a plurality of polishing regions in an arc or straight line.

i) The invention according to claim 11 is the invention according to any one of claims 8 to 10, wherein the end face of the optical connector and the size of the polishing film are compared with the size of the end face of the optical connector and the facing portion of the polishing film. The feature is that the distance to face in parallel is reduced. As a result, the polishing liquid can be held in this portion by the meniscus force of the gap and water during sliding rotation.

j) The invention according to claim 12 is the invention according to claim 10 or 11, wherein the speed of the small-diameter high-speed rotation generates a sufficient swirling flow and stirring flow in the meniscus of the polishing liquid, and polishing. The liquid is characterized in that it does not scatter due to centrifugal force.

k) The invention according to claim 13 is the invention according to any one of claims 10 to 12, wherein a rotation diameter of the small-diameter high-speed rotation is larger than a diameter of the ferrule end surface, and a diameter of a bottom surface of the optical connector holding portion It is characterized by being smaller.

l) The invention according to claim 14 (see FIG. 3) is the invention according to any one of claims 10 to 13, wherein the means for rotating the small diameter at high speed and the means for moving at low speed are the first motor rotating at high speed. (21), a second motor (20) rotating at a low speed, a sun gear (15) directly connected to the second motor (20), and a first gear directly connected to the first motor (21) (26), a second gear (16) driven by the first gear (26) and rotating at high speed on the same axis with respect to the sun gear (15), and the second gear (16) A first axis (17, b) provided on a fixed upper part structure (T) for rotating the polishing surface plate (22), and rotating with respect to the first axis (17, b) A third gear (18) provided freely and fixed to the polishing surface plate (22); A fourth gear (19) that is meshed with the third gear (18) and the sun gear (15) and is rotatably provided on a second shaft fixed on the upper structure (T). The first shaft (17, b) and the shaft (a) of the sun gear are slightly shifted from each other.

m) The invention according to claim 15 (see FIG. 4) is the invention according to any one of claims 10 to 13, wherein the means for rotating the small diameter at high speed and the means for moving at low speed are the first motor rotating at high speed. (21a), a first gear (26) directly connected to the first motor (21a), a second gear (16a) driven by the first gear (26), and the second gear A fixed sun gear (15a) provided on the same axis as the gear (16a) and the polishing surface plate (Ta) provided on the upper structure (Ta) fixed to the second gear (16a) 22) a first shaft (17, b) for rotating, and a third shaft rotatably provided to the first shaft (17, b) and fixed to the polishing surface plate (22). Meshed with the gear (18a) and the third gear (18a), the upper structure ( a) meshed with the fourth gear (29) rotatably provided on the second shaft fixed on the sun gear (15a) and fixed on the upper structure (Ta) And a fifth gear (27) integrally provided with the fourth gear (29). The fifth shaft (17, b) is provided on the second shaft. And the axis (a) of the sun gear (15a) are slightly shifted.

  By adopting the configuration as described above, the present invention is a reproducible process for rough polishing and finish polishing of optical connector ferrules with a small and low-cost apparatus that uses a simple mechanism with very simple work. The optical connector end face processing method and the optical connector end face processing apparatus that can be performed well can be provided.

(Summary of Invention)
The present invention
First, a polishing platen composed of a plurality of regions in which various types of polishing abrasive grains are fixed on the same surface is used.
Secondly, the sliding between the ferrule for processing and the polishing surface is a small-diameter high-speed revolving motion, and this causes stirring and swirling of the polishing liquid.
Third, a method is used in which the ferrule is moved from the coarse abrasive grain region while being processed on the polishing surface plate and finally moved in the finishing abrasive region to complete the processing.

  In general, when processing continuously using a polishing surface plate that has coarse and finish abrasive grain areas on the same surface, the abrasive grains or chips in the rough process are finished as described above. Mixing into the machining area, and causing large machining damage with relatively large scratches on the finished surface.

  Therefore, this processing method cannot generally be used for processing optical connectors. However, in the present invention, small-diameter high-speed motion is used for processing in each region. This method can generate agitation accompanied by a swirling flow in the polishing liquid around the ferrule as a workpiece.

  As a result, the detached abrasive grains or chips are kept away from the contact sliding portion between the ferrule end face to be processed and the polishing face. Therefore, they do not reach the surface being finished and do not leave a processing mark with damage on the processed surface.

(Example)
Hereinafter, the detailed means in the present invention will be described. FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a specific example of the relative trajectory of a ferrule with respect to a polishing surface plate (or an elastic body thereon) 6 on which two types of polishing plates, a rough processing polishing film 7 and a finishing processing polishing film 8, are mounted. is there.

  In FIG. 1, the ferrule moves on the polishing surface plate (or the elastic body thereon) 6 on the roughing polishing film 7 and the finishing polishing film 8 along the illustrated locus. Although illustrated, the ferrule is actually fixed, and the polishing platen (or the elastic body thereon) on which the polishing film 7 for rough processing and the polishing film 8 for finishing are mounted moves, and the relative locus is As shown in FIG.

  Polishing starts from the processing start point 2 in the region of the first polishing plate, ie, the rough polishing film 7 such as a diamond polishing film.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the ferrule 10 passes through a ferrule guide hole (ferrule holding part) 9 installed on the upper part of the polishing film 12, and is a rough polishing film that becomes the first polishing film with a spring or the like not shown. 7 is pressed. This pressing is maintained during processing by allowing the ferrule to slide relative to the ferrule guide hole 9.

  Before starting the processing, a small amount of water or the like is dropped as a polishing liquid 13 on the polishing film. The polishing liquid 13 is essential in the main processing for obtaining a good surface in a short time. In this state, as shown in FIG. 1, processing by revolution of the polishing film by high-speed small rotation 4 is started.

  At this time, the polishing liquid 13 is held by a meniscus force (surface tension) in a gap between the ferrule holding portion (ferrule guide portion) 9 and the polishing film 12.

  However, since the polishing film rotates at a relatively high speed with respect to the ferrule 10, a stirring swirl flow accompanied by a small-diameter high-speed rotation is generated in the polishing liquid 13. With this flow, as shown in FIG. 2 at 14, the detached abrasive grains and chips are floated from the polishing film 12 and are moved away from the vicinity of the contact point of the ferrule on the ferrule by the centrifugal force due to the swirling flow.

  The processing position is continuously moved by the slow rotation 3 of the polishing film while continuing the processing by the small-diameter high-speed rotation 4, and then moves from the roughing region to the finishing region. Of course, since the same polishing liquid 13 is used in the processing at this time, the polishing liquid 13 itself contains detaching abrasive grains and chips, but it enters the ferrule end face that is polished for the above reason. There is almost no. Thereby, when processing is completed at the processing end point 5 in the finish abrasive grain region, a mirror surface without processing damage can be obtained.

  In this case, the first supplied small amount of the polishing liquid 13 is used until the polishing is completed. In the apparatus used in the field etc., such usage of the polishing liquid 13 is required in view of the complexity of the work, the disposal process, and the like. Although it is conceivable to use a large amount of polishing liquid 13 by a circulation device, in this case, the device becomes large. Therefore, such usage of the polishing liquid 13 is one feature of the present invention.

  Actually, even if the high-speed revolving motion is performed, this liquid is held at the site shown in FIG. 2 by the meniscus force (surface tension). Further, even if the solids such as abrasive grains in the polishing liquid 13 are not removed to the liquid peripheral part by centrifugal force, if they are floating by the stirring force, the ferrule end face always in contact with the polishing surface during processing. Has a very low probability of entering.

  If the same processing is actually performed without supplying the polishing liquid 13, processing damage accompanied by scratch marks, which is thought to be caused by many diamonds, occurs on the finished polished surface. This is considered to be because in this case, chips and detached abrasive grains cannot be detached from the processing point by the polishing liquid 13.

  The rotational movement that moves in the polishing region makes it possible to almost always use a new polishing film surface for processing, prevents a reduction in processing efficiency, and contributes to realizing a processing amount per processing with good reproducibility.

  In FIG. 1, where the polishing film facing the ferrule changes along with low-speed rotation, processing across two types of films is performed with one small-diameter revolution, but this was not a particular problem in the experiment. In addition, FIG. 1 shows an example in which two types of polishing films are provided on the polishing surface plate 22 without gaps, but the same effect can be obtained even if a gap is provided between two types of polishing films. . Furthermore, not only two types but also more types of polishing films may be provided without gaps or with gaps. Further, a cleaning film or a film having no polishing ability can be attached to the gap between the polishing films.

  In addition, since the two types of films are separately attached to the polishing surface plate (22 in FIG. 3) via an elastic body (D in FIG. 3), strictly speaking, there is a gap (partially a ferrule between them). In some cases, there is a problem of separation from the polished surface.

  Furthermore, depending on the case, in the movement across two types of films, it is possible to sufficiently consider processing by stopping the revolution and only the rotation movement. Compared to the whole processing, this transition region has a low ratio, so there seems to be no significant effect. In addition, since the revolution is small, the time for polishing both films can be reduced.

  By adopting the processing method as described above, the equipment can be realized from roughing to finishing by continuous multi-steps with only simple movements of the high-speed revolution and rotation of the polishing film. In addition, the machining operation itself is simplified.

  In addition, the rotation and revolution control can be sufficiently controlled by a small microcomputer installed in the apparatus, and low cost can be realized.

  Next, an example of a specific apparatus configuration of an apparatus that can actually perform such processing will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

  FIG. 3 is a schematic side view of the apparatus configuration in the present embodiment. In the case of this example, a motor 21 that rotates at high speed and a motor 20 that rotates at low speed are mounted.

  A polishing surface plate 22 mounted on a part of the housing or a fixed member C attached to the housing through a bearing B so as to be freely movable in the horizontal direction, and an elastic body on the polishing surface plate 22 A rough polishing film (corresponding to the rough processing polishing film 7 in FIG. 1) and a finishing polishing film (corresponding to the finishing polishing film 8 in FIG. ) Is installed.

  Further, the ferrule 24 held by the ferrule guide 23 is pressed against the polishing film by an appropriate processing pressure 25 so that appropriate polishing is performed with the movement trajectory of the polishing film.

  A gear 16 that rotates at high speed on the same axis with respect to the sun gear 15 that is directly connected to the motor 20 that rotates at low speed is driven by a gear 26 that is connected to a motor 21 for high speed revolution.

  A shaft 17 for revolving the polishing surface plate 22 is fixed to the gear 16 via an upper portion structure T. Further, a gear 18 that is fixed to the polishing surface plate 22 and that can freely rotate with respect to the shaft 17 is installed on the shaft 17. That is, the polishing surface plate 22 is integrated with the gear 18 via a structural member, while the shaft 17 is free.

  The gear 18 has the same number of teeth as the sun gear 15. Further, the gear 18 and the sun gear 15 are engaged with each other by a gear 19 that is also freely configured on a shaft fixed to the gear 16 via the upper portion structure T. Therefore, the radius of revolution is the distance r between the axis a of the sun gear 15 and the axis 17 (or b) of the gear 18.

  Here, if the sun gear 15 does not rotate and the revolving gear rotates at high speed, the polishing surface plate 22 does not rotate with respect to the ferrule 24 and performs only high speed revolving. When the sun gear 15 is rotated at a low speed in this state, the polishing surface plate 22 rotates at a low speed while rotating at high speed, and the polishing locus as shown in FIG. 2 for realizing the processing method of the present invention is realized. To do.

  The above embodiment shows an example in which two motors of low speed rotation and high speed rotation are used. The configuration using two motors can change the rotation speed without changing the revolution speed. Further, there is an advantage that the transition from the processing end point to the next processing start point can be performed in a short time if only the rotation motor is driven relatively quickly. However, even a single motor is possible in order to realize the drive mode during processing.

  FIG. 4 is a diagram showing details of the mechanism section in the case of driving by one motor. In this case, the sun gear 15a is fixed.

  In FIG. 4, the gear 27 and the gear 18a have the same number of teeth, the gear 15a has one more tooth, and the gear 29 has one tooth. Alternatively, the number of teeth of the gear 15 and the gear 29 may be reversed. As a result, low speed rotation and high speed rotation can be realized with the smallest number of teeth. Here, the gear 27 and the gear 29 are integrated by a member 28.

  For example, the number of teeth of the gear 27 and the gear 18a is 60, the number of teeth of the gear 29 is 59, and the number of teeth of the gear 15a is 61. In this case, transmission from the gear 15a to the gear 27 results in 61/60 acceleration (1.01666), and transmission from the gear 29 to the gear 18a results in 59/60 deceleration (0.983333). When these are multiplied, the transmission from the gear 15a to the gear 18a results in 0.999712. Thereby, it will rotate 2.88 times at 10,000 revolutions, and this will be 0.576 rotations per 2000 revolutions. Therefore, it is possible to realize a mechanism that rotates 0.57 revolutions in 2 minutes at a revolution speed of 1000 rpm. Needless to say, the number of teeth of the gear is merely an example, and the present invention is not limited to this.

(Description of specific configuration example)
In actual processing, two types of polishing films (abrasive grains are diamond and silica) are prepared on the elastic body to form a convex spherical surface, and a ferrule (diameter 2.5 mm) is pressed against the polishing surface through the ferrule guide hole. I went there.

  At this time, pressing is performed with a spring from the top of the ferrule, and the pressure is about 300 g. Here, the portion of the ferrule holding part facing the polishing surface is a circle having a diameter of 12 mm, and the distance from the polishing film surface is 0.5 mm to 1 mm. The revolution radius is 3.5 mm, and the polishing film rotates at a low speed so that the high-speed revolution center moves along a circular orbit having a diameter of 24 mm. The polishing film was rotated so that the high-speed revolution speed was 1500 rpm and the processing was completed in 2 minutes.

  The processing was performed on the ferrule in a state where the fiber did not protrude from the ferrule end face according to the process described in the conventional method. A sufficient amount of processing was achieved with diamond, and the effects of fiber folding were eliminated. As for the processed end surface, scratches were formed in two by 100 processing, but the remaining ferrules showed a mirror surface.

  Furthermore, the return loss, which is an important optical characteristic of the optical connector and is an index of processing damage, was 52 dB or more at all terminals, indicating a very good result. In addition, the specification of the convex side of 0.1 micron and the concave side of 0.05 micron was satisfied with all the terminals.

  It was also found that the eccentricity of the convex spherical vertex with respect to the fiber is 50 microns or less and the specifications of the spherical curvature radius of 10 to 25 mm are satisfied with all terminals, and it is possible to process a connector that satisfies all specifications.

  As the revolution speed, good results were obtained even at 500 rpm, and the experiment was confirmed up to 3000 rpm. Further, even when 3% of silicon carbide abrasive grains having an average particle size of 30 microns are mixed in the polishing liquid, no scratch is generated, which also shows the effect of the present invention.

  In addition, when 500 rpm is used as the revolution speed, the scratch occurrence rate is increased. In this case as well, the return loss as a measure of damage showed a good value. This is because even if scratches occur, the characteristics do not deteriorate unless the core portion, which is a small part of the fiber end face, is affected.

  On the other hand, when the diameter of the surface of the ferrule holding part facing the polished surface was 8 mm, the occurrence of scratches increased. Considering the revolution diameter of 7 mm and the diameter of the ferrule end face of about 2.5 mm, it is considered that the ferrule passes through a portion with a large amount of solid matter around the held polishing liquid, thereby generating scratches.

  Considering this, in order to smoothly perform the two types of polishing, the rotation diameter of the high-speed rotation (7 mm in the above example) is as large as possible than the diameter of the ferrule end face (2.5 mm in the above example), and the optical connector is held. It is necessary to make it as small as possible than the diameter of the bottom surface of the portion (12 mm in the above example).

  In addition, although not shown in the actual processing device, a start switch (start switch) is provided on the device housing, a pilot lamp for displaying the state by distinguishing the color, and the like during the actual processing, The apparatus is set to start by pressing the start switch at the start point (processing start point 2 in FIG. 2) on the rough processing polishing film and to stop at the end point (processing end point 5 in FIG. 2). Here, considering the small-diameter high-speed rotation region, the low-speed rotation was performed at an angle of 300 degrees from the machining start point 2 to the machining end point 5 as the center of the low-speed rotation.

  At this point, remove the ferrule and press the same switch again. Then, the polishing surface plate rotates relatively quickly without revolving and returns to the start point. The state at the start point and the state at the end point can be distinguished by the color of the pilot lamp.

  Moreover, in the said Example, although the method using only 2 types of films (Roughening polishing film and Finishing polishing film) was described, using 3 types is also considered. As the three types of films, for example, diamond abrasive grains having a large particle diameter, small ones, and silica abrasive film can be considered.

  As described above, the arcuate shape is described for the low-speed movement, but it may be a straight line. In this case, the apparatus is complicated because it requires a straight stage. However, when machining a large number of lines simultaneously, it is advantageous that the machining amounts (stay times) of the rough machining area and the finishing machining area can be made substantially the same by arranging them parallel to the area boundary.

It is the figure which shows the relative motion locus | trajectory of the conceptual diagram which looked at the polishing surface plate by this invention from the upper part, and a ferrule end surface, and a polishing board. It is the figure which looked at the periphery of the ferrule in process, and the condition of polishing liquid from the side. It is a side view of the apparatus for implement | achieving the process by this invention. FIG. 5 is a structural diagram when the apparatus has a one-motor configuration for part A in FIG. 4. It is a figure which shows the process process by 2 process grinding | polishing.

Explanation of symbols

1: Fiber breakage that occurred,
2: Machining start point 3: Low speed rotation 4: High speed revolution 5: Machining end point 6: Polishing surface plate (or elastic body thereon)
7: Polishing film for rough processing 8: Polishing film for finishing 9: Ferrule guide hole (ferrule holding part)
10: Ferrule 11: Centrifugal force generated by swirling flow 12: Polishing film 13: Polishing solution held by meniscus force in the gap between the bottom of the ferrule holding part and the polishing plate 14: Stirring and floating by polishing solution, and further swirling flow 1515a: Sun gear 16, 16a: Gear 17, b: Shaft 16 and shaft integrated with gear 16 (revolving shaft)
18: A gear fixed to the polishing surface plate 22 and freely rotating on the revolution shaft 17 19: A gear meshing with the sun gear 15 and the gear 18 20: Low-speed rotating motor (for rotation)
20a: Fixed object 21: High-speed rotating motor (for revolution)
21a: High-speed rotation motor 22: Polishing surface plate 23: Ferrule guide 24: Ferrule 25: Processing pressure 26: Gear directly connected to the high-speed rotation motor 21 27: Gear meshing with the sun gear 15 28: Gear 27 and gear 29 rotate integrally Structure 29: Gear that meshes with the gear 18 fixed to the polishing surface plate 22 a: Sun gear shaft B: Bearing C: A part of the casing or a fixed member attached to the casing D: Elastic body

Claims (15)

An optical connector end face processing method for polishing an end face of a connector of a single-core optical fiber holding a ferrule,
A plurality of polishing regions including a roughing process and a finishing process made of polishing films having different types or grain sizes of abrasive grains are provided, and the ferrule end face of the connector is used for the roughing process relative to the plurality of polishing areas. A method of processing an optical connector end face, wherein a polishing region is used as a starting point and the polishing region for finishing is used as an end point while being continuously slid and moved.   2. The optical connector end surface processing method according to claim 1, wherein the movement is performed without continuously separating the ferrule end surface of the connector from the polishing region.   The sliding is to rotate the plurality of polishing areas relatively small in diameter and high speed with respect to the ferrule end face, and to move between the plurality of polishing areas at a low speed in an arc shape or on a straight line. The optical connector end surface processing method according to claim 1 or 2.   The distance between the bottom surface of the ferrule holding portion of the optical connector and the polishing film that is parallel to each other is reduced as compared with the size of the bottom surface of the ferrule holding portion of the optical connector and the facing portion of the polishing film. The optical connector end surface processing method according to any one of 1 to 3.   The speed of the small-diameter high-speed rotation is such that a sufficient swirling flow and stirring flow are generated in the meniscus of the polishing liquid and the polishing liquid is not scattered by centrifugal force. Optical connector end face processing method.   6. The optical connector end face processing method according to claim 3, wherein a rotation diameter of the small-diameter high-speed rotation is larger than a diameter of the ferrule end face and smaller than a diameter of a bottom face of the optical connector holding portion. .   7. The optical connector end face processing method according to claim 1, wherein the ferrule has a diameter of about 1.25 mm, 2.5 mm, or a cylindrical shape equivalent thereto. An optical connector end surface processing apparatus for polishing an end surface of a single-core optical fiber connector holding a ferrule,
A polishing surface plate;
A plurality of polishing regions including those for roughing and finishing made of polishing films having different types or grain sizes of abrasive grains provided on the polishing surface plate;
Means for pressing the ferrule end face of the connector against the polishing surface plate;
Low-speed moving means for moving the connector end surface relative to the plurality of polishing regions at a low speed continuously with the roughing polishing region as a starting point and the finishing polishing region as an end point;
An optical connector end face machining apparatus comprising a sliding means for sliding locally during movement at the low speed.   9. The optical connector end face processing apparatus according to claim 8, wherein the ferrule end face of the connector does not leave the plurality of polishing regions during the low speed movement.   The sliding means is means for rotating the plurality of polishing areas relatively small in diameter and high speed with respect to the ferrule end surface, and the low-speed moving means is means for moving the low-speed movement between the plurality of polishing areas in an arc shape or on a straight line. The optical connector end face processing apparatus according to claim 8 or 9,   The distance between the end face of the optical connector and the polishing film facing in parallel is made smaller than the size of the end face of the optical connector and the portion of the polishing film facing each other. The optical connector end face processing apparatus as described.   12. The speed of the small-diameter high-speed rotation is set such that a sufficient swirling flow and stirring flow are generated in the meniscus of the polishing liquid and the polishing liquid is not scattered by centrifugal force. Optical connector end face processing equipment.   The optical connector end face processing apparatus according to any one of claims 10 to 12, wherein a rotation diameter of the small-diameter high-speed rotation is larger than a diameter of the ferrule end face and smaller than a diameter of a bottom face of the optical connector holding portion. . The means for rotating the small diameter at a high speed and the means for moving at a low speed are:
A first motor that rotates at a high speed;
A second motor rotating at a low speed;
A sun gear directly connected to the second motor;
A first gear directly connected to the first motor;
A second gear that is driven by the first gear and that rotates at high speed about the same axis as the sun gear;
A first shaft for rotating the polishing platen provided on the upper part structure fixed to the second gear;
A third gear provided rotatably with respect to the first shaft and fixed to the polishing surface plate;
A fourth gear that is meshed with the third gear and the sun gear, and is rotatably provided on a second shaft fixed on the upper structure,
The optical connector end face machining apparatus according to any one of claims 10 to 13, wherein the first shaft and the shaft of the sun gear are slightly shifted. The means for rotating the small diameter at a high speed and the means for moving at a low speed are:
A first motor that rotates at a high speed;
A first gear directly connected to the first motor;
A second gear driven by the first gear;
A fixed sun gear provided on the same axis as the second gear;
A first shaft for rotating the polishing platen provided on the upper structure fixed to the second gear;
A third gear provided rotatably with respect to the first shaft and fixed to the polishing surface plate;
A fourth gear meshed with the third gear and rotatably provided on a second shaft fixed on the upper structure;
A fifth gear meshed with the sun gear, rotatably provided on a second shaft fixed on the upper structure, and integrally connected to the fourth gear;
14. The optical connector end processing apparatus according to claim 10, wherein the first shaft and the sun gear shaft are slightly shifted.

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